I'll take a look at an MP Jazz anyone else makes, but Downbeat is gonna be tough to beat.
Looks, personality and articulation are all very very high in robot mode.

But if Takara licenses that car and nails it, full racing livery, as they would likely be required to, along with a gorgeous paintjob - that could do it. Improve the car. That's the only thing I'd be sold on.

As plain as Inferno's back end may be, at least it doesn't appear mistransformed. I have Downbeat, and he does many things well, but he's still an obvious place holder should another company want a shot at it.

As plain as Inferno's back end may be, at least it doesn't appear mistransformed. I have Downbeat, and he does many things well, but he's still an obvious place holder should another company want a shot at it.

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I can see how people look at it that way. For me though, I'm not a $160 placeholder kinda guy. When I bought Downbeat, that was a compromise I decided I could live with.
If I wasn't money conscious, I would probably look to upgrade characters all the time. But for me, one of each rendition is already expensive enough.

I have little faith Takara would make an MP Jazz I would want to buy after passing on so many of their recent MPs. FT would have a chance of knocking this thing outta the park though. I would also give MMC a shot.

There might be reasons not to want an FT Jazz but that can't possibly be one of them. FT doesn't do the simplified, flat toon aesthetic. They're one of the few outfits that still consistently produces Hasui-style, mixed toon/toy figures.

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Interesting, in the FT Devastator thread there was a guy saying that FT was going every bit as anime accurate as Takara.